Method and apparatus for sorting fruits and vegetables



' NOV. 18, 1952 MAGNUSON 2,618,306

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Filed May 28, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 MVi/VTOE ivy M May/70:00

W/ZK R. M. MAGNUSON Nov. 18, 1952 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTI'NG FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Filed May 28, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 NOV. 18, 1952 MAGNUSQN 2,618,306

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES Filed May 28, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY W Patented Nov. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES I Claims- 1 The present invention relates to the sorting offruit and vegetable articles by shape and is o c rnedmore a u a ly w a so t n method and apparatus which can be selectively operated to retain objects of a given shape While rejecting objects of an irregular or a different shape. In the automatic processing of fruits and veg tables one of the troublesome factors is the presence in agiven lot of irregular and uneven shapes which do not adapt themselves to the automatic processing machinery. For example, in the positioning of articles such as onions, apricots and peaches for halving, regularly shaped objects of .a group adapt themselves well to automatic operation While the irregular shapes tend to be improperly positioned and as a result are not halved properly. Also, in processing difierent types and different shapes the mechanism when adjusted to process properly one particular shape of object will not work efiiciently with another shape, and the entire operation becomes more economical if each piece or object can be fed to the proper processing station.

Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to enable sorting of articles of fruit and vegetable character by their shape.

A further object of the invention is to provide sorting apparatus of an automatic character which will enable retention of a selected shape of object and reject other shapes.

Aiurther object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the above character in which each article is sorted individually while at the same time providing for sorting of a large number of articles within a given time so as to be capable of use in production operations.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of apparatus embodying the invention,

Figure 2 "is a schematic side elevational view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is :an enlarged side elev-ational view of the sorting roll structure of the invention.

Figure 4 :is a fragmentary plan view of the sorting roll structure.

Referring toFigures 1 and 2, the general apparatus includes a hopper all from which the arti- .cles-to .berprocessed are fed-over an-inspection :bclt .ii and thence-ate a series. of sizing (rolls {Q2 of =1co-r-iventicna1,construction. Articles .of the serlectedsize fall hetwcentherol-ls 12 .to a discharge,

chut 1'3 ndare d scharged onto aconventicna form of shuffle feed device It which operates to deliver rows of articles at its dischargeend; The The discharge chute it of the shuffie feed leads to the sorting roll structure I! of the instant invention and is timed to deliver a row of articles to each pair of sorting rolls. Associated with the sortingstructure I1 is a transverse discharge belt is which receives the rejected articles while the articles retained are carried over thedischarge endof the sorting roll structure.

Referring to Figures '3 and ,4, the sorting-roll structure includes respective pairs of idler sprockets 2! and drive sprockets -22 'aboutwhich respective chains 23 are trainecLonly one each of sprockets 2| and 22 and chain 23 are seen in Figure 3. The chains 23 support aseries of pairs of sorting rolls 25 and 21, the pairs of rolls being spaced apart to provide discharge spaces iorrejected articles. Each pair of rolls 26 and 2''! provides a series of sorting pockets which are spaced axially of the rolls to receive a row of articles irom the shuffle feed mechanism 14 so that there will be one article in each pocket as indicated in dotted linesat 28 in Figure 4. Preferably each asorting pocket provides a three-point support for the article in the pocket and for this purpose the roll 26 of each pair is formed with a series of V- shaped grooves 29. The rolls 25 and 2'! of-each pair are driven ata differential speed which can be adjusted and for this pu-rpcseeach of the rolls 26 carries at one end a pulley 3|, which is eneas bya1V-be1t3'2runmng within a guide 33 and trained abouta drive pulley '34 on a drive shaft :35. As seenin Figure 1, the shaft 35 is connected to and driven by a conventional form of variable speed motor :31. Similarly, the rolls ,2! (at the end opposite to the pulley ends of the rolls 25) are provided with drive pulleys :38 engaged with a V-belt 39 and driven through a drive pulley l from a variable speed motor 42 (Figure 1'). Both of the belts '32 and 39 have springurged idler pulleys 43 associated therewith .for slack :take-up.

I have discovered that articles oftthe character referred to herein have rotative stability when freely supported and turned at a number of revolutions per minute within a particular speed range which is related to the shape and regularity of shape of the articles. Also, if the speed of rotation is outside of the range .for a particular article, the articles have a rotativeinstability and will eject themselves from the sorting rolls; 1 With fruits the rotative stability isgenerally achieved witha fruit rotating about its rootestem axis.

'of the rolls of 221 feet per minute.

3 However, with some fruit, for example, apricots, a condition of stability can also be achieved at a higher speed range in which the fruit rotates on its greatest diameter, i. e., on its diameter containing the suture.

In general it is the upper limit of a speed range which enables the selective sorting of articles of the above character as all articles will remain on the rolls at low speeds and as the speed is raised to increase the R. P. M. of the articles, various shapes, either regular or irregular, will reach a speed at which they are unstable and will be bounced or rolled from the supporting rolls.

In the sorting of onions by shape, for example, I have found that the speed range for stability of torpedo-shaped onions is sufficiently lower than for round or fiat onions and that the torpedoshaped onions can be sorted from the roundor flat-shaped onions by operating the rolls to provide an R. P. M. of the torpedo-shaped onions above their rotative stability range so that these onions are rejected while flat or round onions will be retained on the rolls. Also, flat onions will be rejected in a low speed range in which round onions are stable on the rolls, while round onions are rejected at higher speeds at which fiat onions are stable. In each case (with the exception of perfectly symmetrical articles) a more or less critical rejection of articles can be made by controlling the speed of rotation of the objects on the rolls. Also the degree of irregularity (i. e., weight unbalance) within a given shape of onion which will be rejected can be controlled by controlling the speed range to provide the proper R. P. M. of the articles. In general, the higher the speed of the onion, the greater the requirement for uniform weight distribution to have rotative stability on the rolls.

In connection with the use of this apparatus and in employing the sorting method disclosed herein, it is desirable to first perform a sizing operation by diameter so that the articles such as onions carried onto the sorting rolls are within a size range which can be brought to substantially the same R. 1?. M. by operation of the sorting 'rolls so that irregular shapes within this size will be rejected. However, if desired, a sorting by size can also be efiected on the same type of rolls as the speed range of the rolls which will give rotative stability to a small onion of a given shape and will not give rotative stability to a large onion of the same shape, and vice versa.

In making a particular sort, the speed of operation of the respective sets of rolls 26 and 21 are selected with reference to the particular shape and size of onion which is to be progressed and' the' sizing roll structure I2 is similarly selected to pass the selected size through for processing in the sorting structure. As a specific example, using three and three-quarter inch diameter rolls with the grooves of the grooved roll having an included angle of 120, and working with onions" of from two to two and one-half diameters, successful rejection of irregular shapes from round onions was obtained with an R. P. M. of both rolls of about 225 giving a surface speed It will be noted that while the surface speed of the full diameter of the grooved roll is the same as that of the smooth roll, the effective surface speed of the grooved roll on the article is less because the article is supported in the groove at a roll portion of less than full diameter.

The sorting roll structure itself is preferable .such as'to provide a differential speed relation between the rolls with the leading roll turning faster than the following roll. Where pockets providing triangular support are employed, it is preferable that the grooved roll be in trailing position. It will be appreciated that the differential speed relation between the rolls can be carried out using the same R. P. M. of the rolls by providing different surface characteristics, for example, having one roll rough and one smooth so that the amount of slippage, in effect, gives the differential speed. Also, this differential effect can be obtained by mounting one roll at a slightly higher elevation than the other so that the lower roll has a better traction driving effect with respect to the articles being sorted.

The sorting method can be carried out with plain rolls and with feeding of the articles longitudinally of the rolls by virtue of differential rotation thereof. However, the pocket forming rolls are considered preferable for feeding a row of objects to processing apparatus requiring a timed feed of the objects because the pockets prevent endwise progression of the articles along the rolls due to the differential action of the turning and supporting rolls and the weight unbalance of the articles themselves.

With the machine operation, the onions or other articles of irregular shape which are supported in the pockets of the roll structure will be rotatively unstable and will be displaced from the pocket to fall between the pairs of rolls onto the discharge belt I8. Those articles for which the speed range is proper to give rotative stability will be carried with the rolls to the discharge end of the sorting roll structure and if desired, for example, can be fed directly into a halving and slicing arrangement of the character shown in my copending application Serial No. 587,124, filed April '7, 1945, for Onion Handling and Cutting Apparatus and Method.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, there is illustrated an apparatus embodying the instant invention in which the roll structure passes through three successive zones in connection with the sorting, inspection and halving of the fruit or vegetable article. There is shown schematically a shuffletype feeder I i from which the rows of articles are transferred by a rotary transfer device 51 having pockets to receive the rows of fruit from the shuflie feeder and to transfer them in properly timed relation to the roll structure. In the present instance the roll structure in each case is made up of a series of spaced apart pairs of rolls, and each pair of rolls 26 and 21 are of the construction previously described except that each roll 2? is provided with a series of peripheral slots 52 in alignment with the apex of the V-shaped groove in the adjacent roll 28. The peripheral slots 52, as later described, provide clearance for the halving knives.

While the rolls are passing through a sorting zone indicated generally at 53, the rolls are driven at the desired selected differential speeds by means of a belt and pulley structure 54 positioned above the rolls and engaging pulleys 56 on the respective supporting shafts of the rolls 2?. Each roll 26 is driven through a belt and pulley arrangement 51 from the cooperating roll 26. As previously described, the operation of the rolls 2627 in this sorting zone 53 is for the purpose of ejecting the articles which will not position properly on the rolls and such ejected articles fall onto the transverse conveyor I8 to, which suitable deflecting plates 58 lead. After the rolls pass out of the influence of the drive 54 they enter aninspectionzzonezi9 in-whichithe rotation 'otntherollsfistops and the articlesiin the :pockets in thelarol lszcan be inspectedforzproper position- "ingzorffor .defectsiin the. articles, etc. With certain articles it may not be desirabletostop the rotation of rolls duringinspection and, desired, suitable drive means -may bexprovided to operate the rolls at- -a reduced speed during inspection. In this zonethe workers may manually position articles whichar'e not properly positioned forhalving, but were-not within the character of articles ejected in 'th'e sorting 'zone 53. It will 'be noted thatconveyor I8an'd one-deflectingpla'te .58 extend under the inspection zone to receive any manually rejected article's.

After the rolls "travel :thi'ough the inspection :zone 59 they enter the halving :z'one 61 wherein the roll's"are again rotated through an overhead pulley and be'lt structure 62 at selected differentialspeeds of the type desirable to effect positio'n-in'g "o'fthe articlesfor halving. The correct range o'fs'peed for positioning for halving. operation is not necessarily the same asthe proper-rejection speed. Near the end of this ha'lving zone the articles *in eachlpocket encounter a halving 'kn'ife 63 pivoted ina suitable fashion at '64 to float -wi-th*respect--to'the rolls 26-4-1 and'th'e fruit or other article's thereon. The operation of the-floatin'g'knives 63, for example, in connection with apricota'is to-cut through to the pit of the apricotso-th'atthe apricot halves will fall apart and i-n' 'm'os'tcases the pit is also freed.

After halving, "the halved articles travel over thedis'charge end of the roll structure onto a suitable conveyor 66. The respective drive arrangements '54 and 62 are preferably provided 'witha'conventional-variable drive of the type indicatedin'connection with the form of the invention shown'in Figures 1-4.

'WhileI have shown and describeda preferred embodimentof'the invention,it'will be apparent that the invention is capable of further variation and modification and its scope should be limited only "by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

fThe-methodoi sorting fruits and vegetables according "to shape which comprises supporting thelower portions of the articles at a plurality "of spaced-points, applying a'rotative eiie'ct in thesa'me direction relative to the horizontalaxes 'of the articles at each point but at different 'speedsy'thereby spinning the articles about said axes-and'removing unstablearticles from said supporting position.

"2.""T'he method o'f-sorting fruits and vegetables according to sh-ape which comprises supporting tile-lower portions of the articles ata plurality of spaced points, "applying a rotative effect in the same direction relative to the horizontal axes of "the articles at each-point, thereby spinning the articles about said axes -Whereby articles of a certain shape will stably spin in contact with said points," and articles of other shapes will develop instability which results in "their being removed fr'om' said' supporting 'position;

:3. Themethod of sortingfruits and vegetables according to shape-which comprises supporting the lowerportions of the articles at a plurality Y (if-spaced points conveying the articles supported at-such spaced points pasta first discharge zone '1 w a second discharge zone, applying a rotative effect in the same direction relative to the hori- "zontal'axe's of the articles at each of said spaced poiritsbut at different-speeds-to'rotate the ar-ticles at a'seleqte'd speed at-Which sp'eed articles nt-a selected shape will have rotative stability "and articlesof othershapcs will have rotative instability, thereby causing retention of articles of -said-:selected shape for discharge at the second -dis'chargezone while articles of othershapes will be ejected during travel of such "articles past the first discharge zone.

4; Themethod of sorting fruits and vegetables according to shape-and halving the articles, which "comprises supporting the lower portions of the articles at a'plurality of spaced points,'conveying the articles supported'on such points through successive sorting, inspecting and halving zones, ap-

plyinga'rotative effect in the same directionprela- 'tive to the-horizontal axes of the articles at each point butat differentspceds asthearticles move through said sorting Zone to cause retention :of

articles :of a selected shape which have a :stable rotative condition zatthe'spee'd' of lotation oj the articles passing through :thezsorting. zonegsupporting the articles at said spaced points without rotation of the articles while being conveyed through theinspectionzone, and applying a relative effect in thesame .directionrelative to the horizontal axes of the articles "at each of said spaced-points to rotate the articles as they'move throughsaid halving zone, and halving the articles.

5. The-method of sorting fruits and vegetables according to shape and halving the articles, which comprises supporting the lower portions of the a stable rotative condition'at the speed or rotation of the articles passing through the sorting zone, supportingthe articles at said spacedzpoints while being conveyed through'the inspection zone, and applying a rotative efiectin the-samedirection'relative to the horizontal axes of the articles 'ateach of said spaced points to rotate the articles as they move through said halving zone,and halving the articles.

6. The method of sorting fruits and vegetables according to shape and halving the articles, which comprises supporting the lower portions of the articlesat a plurality of spaced points, conveying the articles supported on such points through successive sorting, inspecting and halving zones, applying a rotative efiect in the same direction relative to the horizontal axes of the. articles at each pointas the articles move through said sorting: Zone to 'cause retention of articles .of a selected shape which have :astable rotative condition tat .thespeed of rotation Of :the articles passing through the sorting zone, supporting the articles at said spaced points while bein -conveyed through the 5 inspection zone, and applying a rotative efiect in .the same direction relative to the. horizontal axes of the articles at-each .of said spacedipointszto rotate thearticles as they move through said halving "zone, and halving the articles.

LIn a machine for sorting fruits and vege tables according to shape, a series of pairs of rolls with adjacent pairs of rolls spaced apart to provide discharge openings for rejected articles,

therolls of eachpa'ir tprovidingan article-supportmg valley the-rebetween andat leastone-roll of each pair :being grooved :c'ircumferential'ly :f-to

provide article supporting pockets along the valley, and means driving the respective rolls of each pair in the same direction at selected differential speeds to effect discharge of rejected articles upwardly over one roll of a pair and into one of said discharge openings.

8. In 'a machine for sorting fruits and vegetables according to shape, an endless series of pairs of rolls with adjacent pairs of rolls spaced apart to provide discharge openings for rejecting articles, the rolls of each pair providing an article supporting valley therebetween and at least one roll of each pair being grooved circumferentially to provide article supporting pockets along the valley, means for supporting and moving said series of pairs of rolls from the feed end to the discharge end of the machine, and means driving the respective rolls of each pair in the same direction at selected differential speeds to effect discharge of rejected articles upwardly over one roll of a pair and into one of said discharge openings.

9. In a machine for sorting fruits and vegetables according to shape, an endless series of pairs of rolls with adjacent pairs of rolls spaced apart to provide discharge openings for rejected articles, the rolls of each pair providing an article supporting valley therebetween and one roll of each pair having V-shaped grooves to provide article supporting pockets along the valley, means for supporting and moving said series of pairs of rolls from the feed end to the discharge end of the machine, and means driving the respective rolls of each pair at selected differential speeds to effect discharge of rejected articles upwardly over one roll of a pair and into one of said discharge openings.

10. In armachine for sorting fruit and vegetable articles according to shape, a series of pairs of rolls with adjacent pairs of rolls spaced apart to provide discharge openings for rejected articles, the rolls of each pair providing an article supporting valley therebetween, and means driving respective rolls of each pair in the same direction at selected differential speeds to effect discharge of rejected articles upwardly over one roll of a pair and into one of said discharge openings.

11. In a machine for sorting fruit and vegetable articles according to shape, an endless series of pairs of rolls with adjacent pairs of rolls spaced apart to provide discharge openings for rejected articles, the rolls of each pair providing an article supporting valley therebetween, means for supporting and moving said series of pairs of rolls from the feed end to the discharge end of the machine, and means driving the respective rolls of each pair in the same direction at selected differential speeds to effect discharge of rejected articles upwardly over one roll of a pair and into one of said discharge openings.

.12. In a machine for processing fruit an vegetable articles, an endless series of pairs of rolls with adjacent pairs of rolls spaced apart to provide discharge openings therebetween, the rolls of each pair providing an article supporting valley therebetween and at least one roll of each pair having grooves to provide a series of article supporting and sorting pockets along the valley, means for supporting and moving said series of pairs of rolls from the feed end to the discharge end of the machine through successive sorting, inspecting and halving zones, drive means for said rolls in said sorting zone to effect rotation of the rolls of each pair at selected difierential speeds to eject articles of an undesired shape, drive means for said rolls in said halving zone to effect rotation of the rolls of each pair at selected differential speeds, and halving means in said halving zone.

13. In a machine for processing fruit and vegetable articles, an endless series of pairs of rolls with adjacent pairs of rolls spaced apart to provide discharge openings therebetween, the rolls of each pair providing an article supporting valley therebetween and at least one roll of each pair having a groove to provide an article supporting and sorting pocket in the valley, means for supporting and moving said series of pairs of rolls from the feed end to the discharge end of the machine through successive sorting, inspecting and halving zones, driving means for said rolls in said sorting zone to effect rotation of the rolls of each pair at selected differential speeds to eject articles of an undesired shape, drive means for said rolls in said halving zone to effect rotation of the rolls of each pair at selected-differential speeds, and halving means in said halving zone.

14. In a machine for processing fruit an vegetable articles, an endless series of pairs of rolls with adjacent pairs of rolls spaced apart to provide discharge openings therebetween, the rolls of each pair providing an article supporting valley therebetween and at least one roll of each pair having V-shaped grooves to provide a series of article supporting and sorting pockets along the valley, means for supporting and moving said series of pairs of rolls from the feed end to the discharge end of the machine through successive sorting and halving zones, drive means for said rolls in said sorting zone to effect rotation of the rolls of each pair at selected differential speeds to eject articles of an undesired shape, drive means for said rolls in said halving zone to efiect rotation of the rolls of each pair at selected differential speeds, and halving means in said halving zone.

15. In a machine for processing fruit and vegetable articles, an endless series of pairs of rolls with adjacent pairs of rolls spaced apart to provide discharge openings therebetween, the rolls of each pair providing an article supporting valley therebetween and at least one roll of each pair having a V-shaped groove to provide an article supporting and sorting pocket in the valley, means for supporting and moving said series of pairs of rolls from the feed end to the discharge end of the machine through successive sorting and halving zones, drive means for said rolls in said sorting zone to effect rotation of the rolls of each pair at selected difierential speeds to eject articles of an undesired shape, drive means for said rolls in said halving zone to effect rotation of the rolls of each pair at selected differential speeds, and halving means in said halving zone. I

16. In a machine for processing fruit and vegetable articles, an endless series of pairsof rolls with adjacent pairs-of rolls spaced apart to provide discharge openings therebetween, the rolls of each pair providing an article supporting valley therebetween, means for supporting and moving said series of pairs of rolls from the feed end to the discharge end of the machine through successive sorting and halving zones, drive means for said rolls in said sorting zone to effect rotation of the rolls of each pair at selected differential speeds to eject articles of anundesired shape, drive means for said rpllsin said halving 9 10 zone to efiect rotation of the rolls of each pair at Number Name Date selected differential speeds, and halving means 1,214,189 L meist Jan, 30, 1917 in said halving zone. 1,468,804 Contant Sept. 25, 1923 ROY M. MAGNUSON. 1,708,137 Helenbolt Apr. 9, 1929 5 1,875,072 Maryott Aug. 30, 1932 REFERENCES CITED 1,894,058 Rice Jan. 10, 1933 The following references are of record in the 1,930,517 Good 13, 1934 fil of this t; 2,254,594 Carroll Sept. 2, 1941 2,296,645 Marsden Sept. 22, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENTS 1Q 2,334,416 Kok Nov. 16, 1943 Number Nam D e 2,370,539 Hodecker Feb. 2'7, 1945 1,184,825 Clarke May 30, 1916 

